Thiruvananthapuram : Infighting escalates inside Congress undeterred by threats of disciplinary action or High Command scare. Determined not go down without a fight, Oomen Chandy took centre stage on Monday too. Arguments between Chandy and Sudkhakaran transformed to direct confrontation. With communal equations catching on, Group fights assumed new dimensions. Amid this came the blow from AV Gopinath’s resignation saying Sudhakaran was untrustworthy. At end of the day, suspension of PS Prashant as KPCC Secretary changed to his termination from the party. Black flag at Malappuram DCC office, on close heels of Pathanamthitta, became a shocker to Sudhakaran. With RSP informing its likely boycott of the UDF meeting, the front got rocky.
Won’t Be Hushed To A Corner
Oomen Chandy’s outburst against Sudhakaran overriding the opinion ban, has shocked High Command as well. Oomen Chandy had criticised Sudhakaran saying ‘Divulging the diary containing names recommended by me was inappropriate.” Alhough Ramesh Chennithala thought it best to stay silent rather than riskiing his position, the “I” Group leaders let on his view. “This leadership will destroy the party,” said Joseph Vazhakkal. Without fear, MM Hassan has conveyed to the High Command that problems have became worsened owing to lack of consultation with party seniors, slammed Mullappally Ramachandran. Leaders let on the message that Groups cant be hushed to a corner.
Threats To Subdue
There would no further deliberations on the presidents list and if anyone tries to create obstacle, there will be no caring for who that person might be, warned Sudhakaran. The message is, there will be no sparing of senior leaders as well. Sudhakaran issued notices to KP Anil Kumar and Sivadasan informing extension of their suspensions to 6 months more. In a face-saving exercise, PS Prashant’s suspension was converted to dismissal on Monday, given that, he was set to announce resignation next day.
Complaints Galore
A swarm of dissenters contacted High Command with complaints against K Sudhakaran and VD Satheesan. A and I Group leaders wrote to Rahul Gandhi saying is no priority for minorities in the DCC presidents list. KP Anil Kumar too shot his complaint asking what reasons there was for suspending him. Palode Ravi will destroy the party and should be kept away, wrote PS Prashant in his letter, adding that he would resign if that didn’t happen.
RSP Will Keep Out Of UDF Meeting
RSP will boycott upcoming UDF meeting owing to ongoing strife in Congress, the party state secretary AA Aziz told reporters. UDF’s election debacle was result of infighting in Congress and they are unwilling to end that. Those standing by them are also being put to shame, he said, adding that, RSP will discuss on continued ties with UDF in its meeting slated 4 September.
Black Flat At Malappuram DCC Office Too
Black flag protest showed up at Congress’s district headquarters in Malappuram following announcement of new DCC presidents. The party flag was lowered on the pole and black flag hoisted at DCC office there. The office staff who reached premises early morning, removed the black flag.
The black flag protest was mark of A-I Group dissent over appointing VS Joy as the district president. Also posters criticizing AP Anil Kumar, who crossed over from I Group to KC Venugopal camp, were pasted around the DCC office and in the Collectorate area. Last week, black flag was hoisted up above the party flag at DCC office in Pathanamthitta too.
